Lynden Gooch says his match-winning first senior goal for Sunderland was a moment he will remember forever.

Gooch was the hero for the Black Cats in Cumbria as he netted in the 80th minute to seal a 2-1 victory for Simon Grayson’s side against battling Carlisle United.

The win ensured Sunderland’s name will be in the hat in the early hours of Thursday morning for the Carabao Cup third round draw.

Reflecting on his goal, Gooch said after: “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a ten-year-old boy coming over on trail. To finally get that goal was amazing.

“Nobody wanted extra time, especially with all the games, so it was a relief for everyone, but especially myself - a moment I’ll remember forever definitely.

“We’ve got back to winning ways now too, which the gaffer said was important. We need to continue getting as many wins as possible now to get us back to where we want to be.”

It was a night to remember for the USA international. As well as his goal which cancelled out Carlisle’s equaliser from Danny Grainger, Gooch was also the provider of the Wearsider’s opener as he set up Donald Love to also net his first goal for the club.

Gooch was a regular under previous boss David Moyes before injury halted his progress last season, but has had to be more patient this term, with Grayson sticking with the same starting 11 for all four league games thus far.

Lynden Gooch of Sunderland celebrates scoring (Image: Sunderland AFC)

But Gooch revealed to SAFCTV that he was told by Grayson on Monday that he’d be playing, and made it his mission to impress and earn a place in the regular team.

“On Monday when the gaffer said I was playing my main focus straight away was to make sure I impressed him so I could make it into the team, and hopefully I have done that,” he continued.

“I knew I had to perform if I want to play. That’s the reality of it. Obviously we have a lot of senior players and players who are doing well.

“We’ve been winning games and picking up points so the main thing for me in the game was to contribute and make sure I showed what I can do.”

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Carlisle 1-2 Sunderland

Sunderland are now into the third round of the League Cup with the draw no longer seeded from this point on.

England’s European competitors enter at this stage meaning Sunderland could theoretically be landed with a tie against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea or the side that beat them in the final of this competition in 2014 Manchester City.

For Gooch though, he’s not looking that far ahead yet.

Asked of any preferred opponent, he responded: “I haven’t even thought about it yet. I’m just trying to savour the moment.”